I have no idea what Mac to buy, please help

[FrenchPB]

Dear all,
I am totally confused on which Mac to buy for my simple but specific needs to replace my 2011 27-inch iMac (updated with a 1 TB SSD).
I mostly use my Mac to : manage my digital photos library (50.000 photos), stream HD videos to all my devices using Plex, then do everyday stuff like web-browsing, listening to music and use MS Office...

I've been considering :

• a Mac Mini M2 : connected to my 65-inch 4K TV, it'd be great to watch 4K video without having to use Plex, and a perfect device for media streaming. However, I sit too far away from the TV to make it a useful solution on everyday task. Even wondering whether I'd like to cue photos on my large screen TV...
• a 14-inch MacBook Pro : the screen would be perfect but a laptop doesn't make sense to me as a media server. I'd have to connect it to my TV HDMI cable to watch 4K content withouth having to use Plex, and I'd need an external SSD to manage my Photos library (pretty annoying with a notebook)
• a new iMac, but I honestly don't like the new versions with the white bezel. Might there be a black bezel pro version in the future... ?

Hope you guys can give me some advices

 

[MBAir2010]

Macbook!
im typing this on a 2012 MacBook Pro running Monterey
they last forever!

 

[sublunar]

Need a budget really, and more of an explanation as to how you intend to get those videos onto your devices - traditional HDMI cable? Do you have an AppleTV or does Plex work wirelessly through AirPlay?

 

[Apple_Robert]

In my opinion, it would be better to use a small NAS for Plex versus an iMac or Mac mini. Connecting your Mac to your TV is not going to be a good long term setup. If you do get a small NAS, you could easily get by with an MBP.

 

[sam_dean]

Dear all,
I am totally confused on which Mac to buy for my simple but specific needs to replace my 2011 27-inch iMac (updated with a 1 TB SSD).
I mostly use my Mac to : manage my digital photos library (50.000 photos), stream HD videos to all my devices using Plex, then do everyday stuff like web-browsing, listening to music and use MS Office...

I've been considering :

• a Mac Mini M2 : connected to my 65-inch 4K TV, it'd be great to watch 4K video without having to use Plex, and a perfect device for media streaming. However, I sit too far away from the TV to make it a useful solution on everyday task. Even wondering whether I'd like to cue photos on my large screen TV...
• a 14-inch MacBook Pro : the screen would be perfect but a laptop doesn't make sense to me as a media server. I'd have to connect it to my TV HDMI cable to watch 4K content withouth having to use Plex, and I'd need an external SSD to manage my Photos library (pretty annoying with a notebook)
• a new iMac, but I honestly don't like the new versions with the white bezel. Might there be a black bezel pro version in the future... ?

Hope you guys can give me some advices

I have a similar situation to you as I want to replace my 2012 iMac 27" that turns 10 in 3 weeks for a 2023 iMac 27" replacement with 32GB memory.

For the past 2 years there has been rumors of a iMac 27" replacement. My personal guess is one will come out by WWDC 2023 in June.

What some may suggest would be

- $1599 Studio Display
- $599 Mac mini M2
- add keyboard + mouse

It seems like a sensible upgrade but just like you I tend to keep my Mac until the last macOS Security Update that occurs months before its 10th year. So an AIO like an iMac is a better design fit for me.

The white border you are bothered with is present in the 1998-2001 iMac G3. That color scheme was copied onto the 2021 iMac M1.

I'd only opt for a laptop if you need the portability.

 

[sam_dean]

In my opinion, it would be better to use a small NAS for Plex versus an iMac or Mac mini. Connecting your Mac to your TV is not going to be a good long term setup. If you do get a small NAS, you could easily get by with an MBP.

I agree... I have a Synology NAS but use its built-in Video Station

 

[Apple_Robert]

I agree... I have a Synology NAS but use its built-in Video Station

I have a 4 bay Synology DS 920+ (52TB) for Plex and as DS220+ (20TB) for Mac and iPhone backup. I used to use my mini for Plex and it was a pain in the butt when the power went out or something else happened and had to restart. Granted, it didn't happen all the time but, the NAS setup is much better, especially with RAID 5. I have both NAS connected to a UPS and feel much better than the old setup.

 

[FrenchPB]

Thanks for your answer, very helpful.
I don't know anything about NAS. I understand they are hard drives directly connected to your network, but does it have a processor and RAM to decode a video ?

For example, if I have a 4K video stored on my NAS and want to watch it on TV, how does that work ?

 

[FrenchPB]

An other question about NAS : can you use a NAS to store your Photos library, and use an other device like an iPad Pro to manage your photos ?

Note that I currently have an Apple TV 4K and Xbox Series S connected to my 65-inch 4K TV, and iPad Pro and a PC laptop for work.

Since I basically need a Mac for Plex and Photos, I was wondering if a NAS could be enough for my needs.
And if no, wondering which Mac computer to buy to manage my Photos. The XDR Retina display on the MBP makes it very appealing, but a simple MacBook M2 would probably be more than enough for my needs...

 

[sam_dean]

Thanks for your answer, very helpful.
I don't know anything about NAS. I understand they are hard drives directly connected to your network, but does it have a processor and RAM to decode a video ?

For example, if I have a 4K video stored on my NAS and want to watch it on TV, how does that work ?

Any NAS would have Plex but I prefer to use its Synology equivalent called Video Station. Same principle as what you are using your Mac mini for. Difference being is that a NAS function leans more to storage unlike a Mac mini that is more like a desktop.

Difference being that a NAS allows for internal expandability of 3.5-inch & 2.5-inch HDD/SSD drive bays.

I have 4 drive bay Synology NAS. I can populate it with say 22TB WD Gold HDD for a max current total of 88TB of storage. This is unlike a Mac mini that is limited to only 8TB SSD at the time of check out. With additional storage from external HDD. NAS can accept external HDD via USB but leads to a cluttered layout.

NAS would be connected to your smart TV via Ethernet. I plug my NAS to a Gigabit switch that in turn my smart TV is attached to it. Same principle as a Mac mini where in Plex or Plex equivalent would be used to push content to the smart TV.

 

[sam_dean]

An other question about NAS : can you use a NAS to store your Photos library, and use an other device like an iPad Pro to manage your photos ?

Note that I currently have an Apple TV 4K and Xbox Series S connected to my 65-inch 4K TV, and iPad Pro and a PC laptop for work.

Since I basically need a Mac for Plex and Photos, I was wondering if a NAS could be enough for my needs.
And if no, wondering which Mac computer to buy to manage my Photos. The XDR Retina display on the MBP makes it very appealing, but a simple MacBook M2 would probably be more than enough for my needs...

Yes, my NAS allows for backup of Photos.

I have a similar setup and I find myself wanting to downscale the tech so I have more time for sleep at night and more in person interaction with minimal tech.

In the 3 decades of tech exposure made me realize that a lot of it are overlapping.

 

[FrenchPB]

I understand NAS for backup of Photos, but can you use is as your main Photos library (e.g. transfer photos from you camera/ phone to the NAS, then browse/ cue/ manage your photos from there using an interface on iPad ?).

I guess I have a hard understanding if a NAS is just storage or also a desktop with processor/ RAM power, in which case I'm wondering if that's really compatible with an Apple environment (no Mac NAS running MacOS)

 

[sam_dean]

I understand NAS for backup of Photos, but can you use is as your main Photos library (e.g. transfer photos from you camera/ phone to the NAS, then browse/ cue/ manage your photos from there using an interface on iPad ?).

I guess I have a hard understanding if a NAS is just storage or also a desktop with processor/ RAM power, in which case I'm wondering if that's really compatible with an Apple environment (no Mac NAS running MacOS)

All your concerns have an iPhone app that works with the NAS.

A NAS can be treated like a network drive on macOS that you can mount.

You can build a DIY NAS using PC desktop parts if you want but commercial NAS are turn key out of the box solutions.

A bit of research on YouTube or Google may provide an explanation that is more comprehensive than anyone can provide on MacRumors?

 

[FrenchPB]

Yes thank you, I was wondering how Mac users like to use their NAS : if they only use their iPad for example, or if a Mac computer is still necessary for most of the tasks.
I understand that a NAS storage solution will also take away all the concerns on internal storage

 

[sam_dean]

For me a NAS is just an USB drive that is attached to a switch. It's attached to the switch so that the devices below & multiple users can all share the resource

- smart TV
- tablet
- smartphone
- laptop
- desktop
- surveillance cameras

 

[FrenchPB]

I'm not sure I will be happy with the performance level of having my 4K videos and photos library on a Nas.
Not sure how my TV/ Apple TV or other devices will decode videos and access photos so quickly.
Since I don't need portability (since I already have an iPad and a PC laptop), I guess I am just waiting for the next iMac that will come in space gray/ black bezel ?

 

[orionquest]

I think @MacProFCP recommendation is good for you.

A NAS is a great solution if you have a lot of media content and need other services. I have a Synology NAS to store my media library and use aTV with infuse, and it works great. Also backup to it with TimeMachine and other things.
But it does involve a whole level of complexity some users might not be able to coupe with. It's basically a server on your network. If you never managed a server, or put together a network then this might not be for you.

 

[maflynn]

I've been considering :

• a Mac Mini M2 : connected to my 65-inch 4K TV, it'd be great to watch 4K video without having to use Plex, and a perfect device for media streaming. However, I sit too far away from the TV to make it a useful solution on everyday task. Even wondering whether I'd like to cue photos on my large screen TV...
• a 14-inch MacBook Pro : the screen would be perfect but a laptop doesn't make sense to me as a media server. I'd have to connect it to my TV HDMI cable to watch 4K content withouth having to use Plex, and I'd need an external SSD to manage my Photos library (pretty annoying with a notebook)
• a new iMac, but I honestly don't like the new versions with the white bezel. Might there be a black bezel pro version in the future... ?

Sounds like you're already leaning towards the Mini, and truth be told, you can't go wrong with the mini. I'd go with that over a NAS. First you have a 2011 iMac, you're on borrowed time, with a 12 year old computer. Secondly, the Mini will be cheaper then buying a NAS and the drives. Third, the Mini will be more useful, as it does more then the NAS.

I think a NAS can and does make sense, but for short term needs the mini checks more boxes for less money imo

 

[Fishrrman]

I'll make it easy for you.

Get an M2pro Mini, with 16gb of RAM and a 2tb SSD.
Get a 27" 4k display.

That should do it...!
(if the 2tb drive is too much money, then get a 1tb instead)

 

[FrenchPB]

I just had an idea.
Would it be possible to connect a Mac Mini to my 4K TV in native 4k resolution to enjoy my digital photos and videos at their best quality, and use the Sidecar app to mirror the screen on my ipad when I’d need to do some MS office work ?
The ipad would become my primary screen, the TV would be the secondary screen to watch movies and look at photos. Would that work ? Is the sidecar latency good ?

 

[Ben J.]

I just had an idea.
Would it be possible to connect a Mac Mini to my 4K TV in native 4k resolution to enjoy my digital photos and videos at their best quality, and use the Sidecar app to mirror the screen on my ipad when I’d need to do some MS office work ?
The ipad would become my primary screen, the TV would be the secondary screen to watch movies and look at photos. Would that work ? Is the sidecar latency good ?

I recommend a M1 or M2 Mini. Very much computer for the money.
Connect a TV for viewing from a distance and a color calibrated monitor for working close and with photo work. You can probably get away with a 512GB drive and 8GB RAM. Instead of buying the insanely priced Apple bigger internal drives, get a (true) Thunderbolt3 enclosure and a 2 or 4 TB NVMe blade for external storage. Great speed and half the price. One set of keyboard/mouse for close work, and one set for sitting on the couch enjoying stuff on the big screen.

All of this can be had for as little as USD$1700 or a little more depending on the details.

Very much like I have myself, apart from the music mixing part in my setup:

Good luck.

 

[fdw777]

Macbook!
im typing this on a 2012 MacBook Pro running Monterey
they last forever!

I'd love to run Monterey on my mid-2012 MacBook Pro with Matte screen (the last great MB). Does everything work properly?

 

[AJK13K]

Macbook!
im typing this on a 2012 MacBook Pro running Monterey
they last forever!

Ditto MacBook Air 2014 going strong.

 

[Jack Neill]

I have a 4 bay Synology DS 920+ (52TB) for Plex and as DS220+ (20TB) for Mac and iPhone backup. I used to use my mini for Plex and it was a pain in the butt when the power went out or something else happened and had to restart. Granted, it didn't happen all the time but, the NAS setup is much better, especially with RAID 5. I have both NAS connected to a UPS and feel much better than the old setup.

That sounds like a sweet setup. I have a Dell Optiplex 7010 running 10.15.7 with 2 8TBs in a Raid 0 for my Plex setup. I like it but I think yours is a better solution.

 

[MBAir2010]

I'd love to run Monterey on my mid-2012 MacBook Pro with Matte screen (the last great MB). Does everything work properly?

like a charm,
except airplay to a tv 4gen 2022 with BT speakers won't show video.
that could be me or something else I'm not doing
i do have Mojave on the other drive instead of a dvd player.